Location information designating device, location information designating method, and non-transitory storage medium in which location information designating program is stored

ABSTRACT

A location information designating device includes a location confirming image acquiring section, a display control section, an operating unit that designates a target location in the location confirming image displayed in the display; and a communicating unit. The location confirming image acquiring section acquires a location confirming image by which location information is confirmable. The display control section displays the acquired location confirming image in a display. The operating unit designates a target location in the location confirming image displayed in the display. The communicating unit transmits, to an external information device, information of the designated target location and the acquired location confirming image together with a request for an action to be performed by a user of the external information device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority fromthe prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-214706, filed Oct. 21,2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a location information designatingdevice to designate location information, a location informationdesignating method, and a non-transitory storage medium in which alocation information designating program is stored.

2. Description of the Related Art

As a technology of designating a photographing position to anotherperson, there is known, for example, a technology of a publication ofJpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2006-14119. In a system of thepublication of Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2006-14119 inwhich a video camera is connected to a client via a network, informationof the photographing position instructed by the client is transmitted tothe video camera via the network. A photographer recognizes theinstruction of the client from information displayed in a display of thevideo camera, and can therefore perform photographing as requested bythe client.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, a location informationdesignating device comprises: a location confirming image acquiringsection that acquires a location confirming image by which locationinformation is confirmable; a display control section that displays theacquired location confirming image in a display; an operating unit thatdesignates a target location in the location confirming image displayedin the display; and a communicating unit that transmits, to an externalinformation device, information of the designated target location andthe acquired location confirming image together with a request for anaction to be performed by a user of the external information device.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a location informationdesignating method comprises: acquiring a location confirming image bywhich location information is confirmable; displaying the acquiredlocation confirming image in a display; designating a target location inthe location confirming image displayed in the display; andtransmitting, to an external information device, information of thedesignated target location and the acquired location confirming imagetogether with a request for an action to be performed by a user of theexternal information device.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a non-transitory storagemedium in which there is stored a location information designatingprogram comprises: acquiring a location confirming image by whichlocation information is confirmable; displaying the acquired locationconfirming image in a display; designating a target location in thelocation confirming image displayed in the display; and transmitting, toan external information device, information of the designated targetlocation and the acquired location confirming image together with arequest for an action to be performed by a user of the externalinformation device.

Advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description whichfollows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may belearned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the inventionmay be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities andcombinations particularly pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constituteapart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the general description given above and the detaileddescription of the embodiments given below, serve to explain theprinciples of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a constitution of a communication systemincluding a location information designating device according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A, FIG. 2B and FIG. 2C are views showing examples of aphotographing scene to be presumed in a photographing system to whichthe communication system according to the one embodiment of the presentinvention is applied;

FIG. 3 is a view to explain an outline of an operation of thecommunication system according to the one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing main processing of a portable informationdevice;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing map image preparation processing;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing touch request reception processing;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a coordinate reception processing;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing photographing request processing;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing photographing request receptionprocessing;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing image reception processing;

FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, FIG. 11C, FIG. 11D, FIG. 11E, FIG. 11F, FIG. 11G,FIG. 11H, FIG. 11I, FIG. 11J, FIG. 11K and FIG. 11L are views showingexamples of a screen to be displayed in a display of the portableinformation device of a photographing request source;

FIG. 12A, FIG. 12B, FIG. 12C, FIG. 12D, FIG. 12E and FIG. 12F are viewsshowing examples of a screen to be displayed in a display of a portableinformation device of a photographing request destination; and

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing processing of a server in Modification 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a view showing a constitution of acommunication system including a location information designating deviceaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. The communicationsystem shown in FIG. 1 includes portable information devices 100 and 200and a server 300. The portable information devices 100 and 200 and theserver 300 are communicably connected. The portable information devices100 and 200 are, for example, smart phones. It is to be noted that, asthe portable information devices 100 and 200, various portableinformation devices such as a digital camera having a communicatingfunction and the like are applicable.

The portable information device 100 and the portable information device200 may have the same constitution or have different constitutions.Hereinafter, to simplify description, it is assumed that the portableinformation device 100 has the same constitution as in the portableinformation device 200, and the detailed constitution of the portableinformation device 100 will be described.

The portable information device 100 includes an imager 102, an imageprocessing unit 104, a display 106, a touch operating unit 108, arecording medium 110, a communicating unit 112, a position detector 114,a calling unit 116, and a control unit 118.

The imager 102 includes a photographing optical system, a diaphragm, animaging element, and an imaging signal processing circuit, and images asubject to generate image data concerning the subject. The photographingoptical system condenses a light flux from the unshown subject. Thediaphragm regulates a quantity of the light flux that enters a lightreceiving surface of the imaging element. The imaging element has thelight receiving surface on which an image of the light flux condensed bythe photographing optical system is formed. In the light receivingsurface, pixels such as photo diodes are two-dimensionally arranged. Inaddition, a color filter is disposed on a light entering side of thelight receiving surface. Such an imaging element converts the image (asubject image) corresponding to the light flux and formed on the lightreceiving surface into an electric signal (hereinafter referred to as animaging signal) corresponding to the quantity of light. The imagingsignal processing circuit subjects the imaging signal obtained by theimaging element to analog processing such as AGC (automatic gaincontrol). In addition, the imaging signal processing circuit convertsthe analog processed imaging signal into a digital signal (hereinafterreferred to as the image data).

The image processing unit 104 performs various types of image processingto the image data obtained by the imager 102. The image processingincludes white balance correction processing, color correctionprocessing, gamma (y) correction processing, enlargement/reductionprocessing, compression processing and the like. In addition, the imageprocessing section 104 also subjects the compressed image data toextension processing.

The display 106 is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), anddisplays various images such as an image for live view (a live viewimage) and an image recorded in the recording medium 110. The touchoperating unit 108 is formed integrally on a display screen of thedisplay 106 to detect a contact position of a user's finger or the likeon the display screen, or the like.

The recording medium 110 is, for example, a flash memory included in theportable information device 100. The recording medium 110 includes acommunication partner information recording section 1101, an imagerecording section 1102, a map image recording section 1103, and aprogram recording section 1104. In the communication partner informationrecording section 1101, information of a communication partner of theportable information device 100 is recorded. This information of thecommunication partner is, for example, a user's name of the portableinformation device 200 or a URL to access the server 300. In the imagerecording section 1102, the image data obtained by a photographingoperation is recorded. Additionally, in the image recording section1102, a face image for use in after-mentioned photographing requestprocessing is recorded. In the map image recording section 1103, mapimage data is recorded. This map image data is one example of locationconfirming image data including information by which an after-mentioneduser of the portable information device of a photographing requestdestination can be informed of a location of a target subject thatbecomes at least a photographing target. This map image data does notnecessarily have to be the image data of “a map”. For example, the mapimage data may be the image data of a sketch. In addition, the map imagedata may be data obtained by photographing a map drawn on a signboard ora handwritten map, or the like. Furthermore, the map image data is notlimited to two-dimensional image data, but may be three-dimensionalimage data. In the program recording section 1104, a program and settingdata for use in the control unit 118 of the portable information device100 is recorded. Furthermore, in the program recording section 1104 ofthe present embodiment, cooperating software to control cooperativephotographing of the portable information device 100 and the portableinformation device 200 is recorded. Details of the cooperating softwarewill be described later.

The communicating unit 112 includes various wireless communicatinginterfaces such as an interface for mobile phone communication and aninterface for wireless LAN communication. The communicating unit 112performs communication with the portable information device 200 or theserver 300. The communicating unit 112 of the example of FIG. 1communicates with the portable information device 200 or the server 300via a network N. However, the communicating unit 112 may be configuredto communicate with the portable information device 200 or the like byshort distance wireless communication via no network N.

The position detecting unit 114 includes, for example, GPS receivingunit, and detects a position of the portable information device 100.Furthermore, an electronic compass or the like may be disposed in theposition detecting unit 114 so that the position detecting unit 114 candetect an azimuth.

The calling unit 116 includes a microphone and a speaker. The microphoneand speaker of the calling unit 116 are disposed for a calling functionin the portable information device 100.

The control unit 118 is constituted of, for example, ASIC including aCPU and a memory, and controls an operation of each block of theportable information device 100 in accordance with a program recorded inthe program recording section 1104 of the recording medium 110.

The control unit 118 has a function of an imaging control section 1181,a function of a display control section 1182, a function of a coordinatedetecting section 1183, a function of a communication control section1184, and a function of a location confirming image acquiring section1185. The function of the imaging control section 1181 is a function ofcontrolling an imaging operation by the imager 102. The function of thedisplay control section 1182 is a function of controlling display ofvarious images to the display 106. The function of the coordinatedetecting section 1183 is a function of acquiring a coordinate of alocation designated by a user's operation of the touch operating unit108 in the image displayed in the display 106. By this function,contents of a touching operation and the like are distinguished. Thefunction of the communication control section 1184 is a function ofexecuting control during communication of the portable informationdevice 100 with the portable information device 200 or the server 300via the communicating unit 112. The function of the location confirmingimage acquiring section 1185 is a function of acquiring the map imagedata as one example of a location confirming image. The map image datais acquired as the image data acquired as the result of the imaging bythe imager 102, or the like.

Here, the respective functions of the control unit 118 may be realizedby hardware separate from the control unit 118.

The server 300 includes a recording medium 302, a communicating unit304, and a control unit 306. The server 300 supplies various services tothe portable information device 100 and the portable information device200 via the network N.

The recording medium 302 includes a community information recordingsection 3021, an image recording section 3022, and a key image recordingsection 3023. In the community information recording section 3021,information of the user belonging to a community is recorded. Thisuser's information is, for example, a user's ID. In the image recordingsection 3022, the image data transmitted from the portable informationdevice 100 or the portable information device 200 is recorded. In thekey image recording section 3023, the map image data as a key image isrecorded for each community.

The communicating unit 304 performs communication with the portableinformation device 100 or the portable information device 200 via thenetwork N.

The control unit 306 includes, for example, a CPU and a memory, andcontrols an operation of the server 300.

The control unit 306 has a function of a display control section 3061, afunction of a coordinate detecting section 3062, and a function of acommunication control section 3063. The function of the display controlsection 3061 is a function of transmitting the image data or the like tothe portable information device 100 or the portable information device200 via the communicating unit 304, to display a specific screen in theportable information device 100 or the portable information device 200.The function of the coordinate detecting section 3062 is a function ofacquiring, via the network N, the coordinate of the location designatedby the user's operation of the touch operating unit 108 in the imagedisplayed in the display 106 of the portable information device 100 anda display of the portable information device 200. The function of thecommunication control section 3063 is a function of executing controlduring the communication of the server 300 with the portable informationdevice 100 or the portable information device 200 via the communicatingunit 304. It is to be noted that the respective functions of the controlunit 306 may be realized by hardware separate from the control unit 306.

Hereinafter, an outline of an operation of the communication systemaccording to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 2A, FIG. 2Band FIG. 2C are views showing examples of a photographing scene to bepresumed in a photographing system to which the communication system ofthe present embodiment is applied. FIG. 2A shows a state where aphotographing scene of one example is seen from the sky. As shown inFIG. 2A, in the photographing scene of the one example, an elephant S1as a subject is present in a fence. In this photographing scene, a childS2 and a child S3 as the other subjects are positioned around the fence.In addition, a father P1 as a photographer is positioned near the childS2, and a mother P2 as a photographer is positioned near the child S3.Additionally, the child S2 does not face the father P1, and the child S3also does not face the mother P2. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2A, thefather P1, the child S2, the elephant S1, the child S3 and the mother P2are substantially linearly arranged in this order. That is, as shown inFIG. 2B, the mother P2 can take a photograph in which the child S3, theelephant S1, the child S2 and the father P1 are shown. Additionally, asshown in FIG. 2C, the father P1 can take a photograph in which the childS2, the elephant S1, the child S3 and the mother P2 are shown.

In the communication system according to the present embodiment, aphotographing requester (e.g., the father P1) who possesses the portableinformation device 100 as the location information designating devicerequests photographing to the photographer (e.g., the mother P2) whopossesses the portable information device 200. When the photographing isrequested, a map image around the photographing requester is displayedin the display 106 of the portable information device 100 of thephotographing requester.

The photographing requester designates, for example, a photographinglocation or a location of the subject of a photographing object whileseeing the map image displayed in the display 106. For example, it isassumed that the child S2 is designated as the subject of thephotographing object. A coordinate in this designated map image isdetected by the function of the coordinate detecting section 1183 of thecontrol unit 118. Afterward, the map image including designatinginformation of the location is transmitted from the portable informationdevice 100 to the portable information device 200.

In the display of the portable information device 200, a map image Mincluding the designating information of the location (the informationindicating the location of the child S2 in the example) is displayed.The photographer photographs the subject present at the locationrequested by the photographing requester while seeing the map imagedisplayed as shown in FIG. 3. In consequence, the photographer can berequested to take a photograph which cannot be taken by thephotographing requester.

Consequently, in the communication system of the present embodiment, thephotographing is performed by a cooperative operation of the portableinformation device 100 and the portable information device 200. In thecommunication system of the present embodiment, the photographingrequester can easily and suitably perform a request for mapphotographing. In addition, the photographer performs the photographingwhile seeing the map image of the location, and hence, the photographcan be taken as requested by the photographing requester.

Hereinafter, the operation of the communication system according to thepresent embodiment will further specifically be described. FIG. 4 toFIG. 10 are flowcharts to explain the operation of the communicationsystem according to the present embodiment. The processing shown fromFIG. 4 to FIG. 10 is controlled by the control units 118 of the portableinformation device 100 and the portable information device 200. Inaddition, FIG. 11A to FIG. 11L and FIG. 12A to FIG. 12F are viewsshowing transitions of the screen to be displayed in the display of theportable information device 100 or the displaying section of theportable information device 200 in accordance with the operation shownfrom FIG. 4 to FIG. 10. Here, in the following description, the portableinformation device 100 is defined as a portable information device (thelocation information designating device) of a photographing requestsource which is possessed by the photographing requester, and theportable information device 200 is defined as a portable informationdevice of a photographing request destination which is possessed by thephotographer. Needless to say, these relations may be reversed.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing main processing of the portableinformation device. Here, the processing of FIG. 4 is applied to both ofthe portable information device 100 and the portable information device200. Hereinafter, in the case of the processing common to the portableinformation device 100 and the portable information device 200, theportable information device 100 and the portable information device 200will be referred to as “the portable information device” together.

In step S101, the control unit 118 determines whether or not a powersource of the portable information device is turned off. When it isdetermined in the step S101 that the power source of the portableinformation device is turned off, the processing of FIG. 4 is ended.

When it is determined in the step S101 that the power source of theportable information device is not turned off, the processing shifts tostep S102. In the step S102, the control unit 118 determines whether ornot to start the cooperating software. For example, when starting of thecooperating software is instructed by the user's operation of the touchoperating unit 108 of the portable information device or when anafter-mentioned touch request is received, it is determined in the stepS102 that the cooperating software is to be started.

When it is determined in the step S102 that the cooperating software isnot started, the processing shifts to step S103. In the step S103, thecontrol unit 118 determines whether or not to execute processing otherthan the starting of the cooperating software. The processing other thanthe starting of the cooperating software is, for example, callingprocessing, electronic mail processing, or photographing processing. Forexample, when execution of the processing is instructed by the user'soperation of the touch operating unit 108 of the portable informationdevice, it is determined in the step S103 that the other processing isto be executed. When it is determined in the step S103 that the otherprocessing is not executed, the processing returns to the step S101.

When it is determined in the step S103 that the other processing is tobe executed, the processing shifts to step S104. In the step S104, thecontrol unit 118 executes the processing determined to be executed.Afterward, the processing returns to the step S101.

When it is determined in the step S102 that the cooperating software isto be started, the processing shifts to step S110. In the step S110, thecontrol unit 118 starts the cooperating software.

In step S111 after the cooperating software is started, the control unit118 determines whether or not to end the cooperating software. Forexample, when the ending of the cooperating software is instructed bythe user's operation of the touch operating unit 108 of the portableinformation device, it is determined in the step S111 that thecooperating software is to be ended. When it is determined in the stepS111 that the cooperating software is to be ended, the processingreturns to the step S101.

When it is determined in the step S111 that the cooperating software isnot ended, the processing shifts to step S112. In the step S112, thecontrol unit 118 determines whether or not to prepare the map image. Forexample, when the preparation of the map image is instructed by theuser's operation of the touch operating unit 108 of the portableinformation device, it is determined in the step S112 that the map imageis to be prepared.

When it is determined in the step S112 that the map image is to beprepared, the processing shifts to step S200. In the step S200, thecontrol unit 118 executes map image preparation processing. Hereinafter,the map image preparation processing will be described with reference toFIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the map image preparationprocessing. The processing of FIG. 5 is controlled by the control unit118 of the portable information device of the photographing requestsource (the portable information device 100).

In step S201, the control unit 118 of the portable information device100 displays such an address selecting screen as shown in FIG. 11A inthe display 106. As shown in FIG. 11A, in the address selecting screen,there is displayed information indicating the communication partnerrecorded in the communication partner information recording section 1101of the portable information device 100, e.g., a list 400 of user names.

In step S202, the user of the portable information device 100 touches adesirable user name among the user names displayed in the addressselecting screen with a finger 402 or the like to select thecommunication partner to whom the photographing is requested (the userof the portable information device 200 in the example). Upon receivingthis operation, the control unit 118 distinguishes the address of thecommunication partner selected by the user, from an output of the touchoperating unit 108.

In step S203, the control unit 118 determines whether or not to performthe photographing. For this determination, the control unit 118 displayssuch a processing selecting screen as shown in FIG. 11B in the display106. As shown in FIG. 11B, in the processing selecting screen, there aredisplayed buttons 404 and 406 indicating contents of processing toselect the map image. The button 404 is a photographing button to beselected by the user when the map image is acquired by thephotographing. In addition, the button 406 is an image selecting buttonto be selected by the user when the map image is acquired from the mapimage recording section 1103. For example, it is determined in the stepS203 that the photographing is performed when the button 404 isselected, by the user's operation of the touch operating unit 108 of theportable information device 100.

When it is determined in the step S203 that the photographing is notperformed, i.e., when the image selecting button 406 is selected, theprocessing shifts to step S204. In the step S204, the control unit 118displays such a map image selecting screen as shown in FIG. 11C in thedisplay 106. As shown in FIG. 11C, in the map image selecting screen,there is displayed a list of map images 408 recorded in the map imagerecording section 1103. It is to be noted that the map images displayedin the list in the map image selecting screen are not limited to the mapimages recorded in the map image recording section 1103. For example,the map images recorded in the key image recording section 3023 of theserver 300 may be displayed together in the list. In addition, the mapimages in the vicinity of a position detected by the position detectingunit 114 may only be displayed in the list.

In step S205, the user of the portable information device 100 touchesthe desirable map image among the map images displayed in the map imageselecting screen with the finger 402 or the like to select the mapimage. The control unit 118 distinguishes the map image data selected bythe user, on the basis of the output of the touch operating unit 108.Afterward, the processing shifts to step S206.

When it is determined in the step S203 that the photographing is to beperformed, i.e., when the photographing button 404 is selected, theprocessing shifts to step S250. In the step S250, the control unit 118transits an operation mode of the portable information device 100 to aphotographing mode.

In step S251 after the operation mode of the portable information device100 transits to the photographing mode, the user uses the portableinformation device 100 to perform an operation to photograph the subjectas the map image. For example, the user performs the photographingoperation to photograph the map drawn on the signboard or the like orperforms the photographing operation to photograph the handwritten map.Upon receiving the user's photographing operation, the control unit 118executes the photographing processing. That is, the control unit 118operates the imager 102. Further, the control unit 118 performs theimage processing of the map image data obtained by the operation of theimager 102, in the image processing unit 104. Subsequently, the controlunit 118 records the map image data in the map image recording section1103. Afterward, the processing shifts to the step S206.

In the step S206, as shown in FIG. 11D, the control unit 118 displays amap image 410 acquired in the step S205 or the step S251 in the wholescreen of the display 106.

In step S207, as shown in FIG. 11E, the user of the portable informationdevice 100 touches a position indicating a location of the user in themap image 410 displayed in the display 106. Upon receiving thisoperation, the control unit 118 acquires a coordinate of the locationselected by the user, from the output of the touch operating unit 108.

In step S208, as shown in FIG. 11F, the control unit 118 displays anicon 412 indicating the location of the user of the portable informationdevice 100, on the map image 410 displayed in the display 106, on thebasis of the coordinate acquired in the step S207.

In step S209, the control unit 118 holds coordinate data acquired in thestep S207, in an unshown memory.

In step S210, as shown in FIG. 11G, the control unit 118 displays atransmission button 414 on the map image 410 displayed in the display106.

In step S211, the control unit 118 determines whether or not thetransmission button 414 is touched. The processing is on standby untilit is determined in the step S211 that the transmission button 414 istouched. The present embodiment may have a constitution in which the mapimage preparation processing is ended after an elapse of predeterminedtime.

When it is determined in the step S211 that the transmission button 414is touched, the processing shifts to step S212. In the step S212, thecontrol unit 118 uses the communicating unit 112 to transmit the mapimage data displayed in the display 106, the coordinate data acquired inthe step S207 and data indicating a person who has touched the button(e.g., data of the user name) to the portable information device of thephotographing requester destination (the portable information device 200in the example) distinguished in the step S202.

In the step S212, the control unit 118 uses the communicating section112 to transmit the touch request to the portable information device ofthe photographing request destination (the portable information device200 in the example). Afterward, the map image preparation processing isended. After the map image preparation processing is ended, theprocessing returns to the step S111 of FIG. 4.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 4. When it is determined in thestep S112 that the map image is not prepared, the processing shifts tostep S113. In the step S113, the control unit 118 determines whether ornot the touch request is received. The touch request is transmitted asthe result of the map image preparation processing from the portableinformation device of the photographing request destination (theportable information device 100 in the example).

When it is determined in the step S113 that the touch request isreceived, the processing shifts to step S300. In the step S300, thecontrol unit 118 executes touch request reception processing.Hereinafter, the touch request reception processing will be describedwith reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the touchrequest reception processing. The processing of FIG. 6 is controlled bythe control unit 118 of the portable information device of thephotographing request destination (the portable information device 200in the example).

In step S301, the control unit 118 of the portable information device200 displays such a touch request screen 416 as shown in FIG. 12A in thedisplay 106. In the touch request screen 416, there is displayed, forexample, a message that prompts the user to touch a location of the useron the map image. According to this message, the user of the portableinformation device of the photographing request destination canrecognize that the touch request reception processing is started.

In step S302, the control unit 118 displays the map image transmittedtogether with the touch request from the portable information device ofthe photographing request source (the portable information device 100 inthe example) in the display 106. This display is performed in the samemanner as in FIG. 11D.

In step S303, as shown in FIG. 12B, the control unit 118 displays theicon 412 indicating the location of the user of the portable informationdevice 100 on the map image 410 displayed in the display 106 on thebasis of the coordinate data transmitted together with the touch requestfrom the portable information device of the photographing request source(the portable information device 100 in the example).

In step S304, as shown in FIG. 12B, the user of the portable informationdevice 200 touches a position indicating the location of the user in themap image 410 displayed in the display 106, with a finger 502 or thelike. Upon receiving this operation, the control unit 118 acquires acoordinate of the location selected by the user, from the output of thetouch operating unit 108. It is to be noted that the embodiment may havea constitution in which the touch request reception processing is endedwhen there are not any touches in predetermined time. In this case, itis preferable to send a notification indicating that cooperativephotographing is not performed to the portable information device of thephotographing request source (the portable information device 100 in theexample).

In step S305, as shown in FIG. 12C, the control unit 118 displays anicon 418 indicating the location of the user of the portable informationdevice 200, on the map image 410 displayed in the display 106, on thebasis of the coordinate acquired in the step S304.

In step S306, the control unit 118 holds, in an unshown memory, thecoordinate data transmitted together with the touch request from theportable information device of the photographing request source (theportable information device 100 in the example) and the coordinate dataacquired in the step S304.

In step S307, the control unit 118 uses the communicating unit 112 totransmit the coordinate data acquired in the step S304 and dataindicating information (e.g., the user name) of the person who hastouched to the portable information device of the photographing requestsource (the portable information device 100 in the example). Afterward,the touch request reception processing is ended. After the touch requestreception processing is ended, the processing returns to the step S111of FIG. 4.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 4. When it is determined in thestep S113 that the touch request is not received, the processing shiftsto step S114. In the step S114, the control unit 118 determines whetheror not the map image is present. It is determined in the step S114 thatthe map image is present when the map image preparation processing isperformed. When it is determined in the step S114 that the map image isnot present, the processing returns to the step S111.

When it is determined in the step S114 that the map image is present,the processing shifts to step S115. In the step S115, the control unit118 determines whether or not the coordinate data is received from theportable information device of the photographing request destination(the portable information device 200 in the example).

When it is determined in the step S115 that the coordinate data isreceived from the portable information device of the photographingrequest destination, the processing shifts to step S400. In the stepS400, the control unit 118 executes coordinate reception processing.Hereinafter, the coordinate reception processing will be described withreference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the coordinatereception processing. The processing of FIG. 7 is controlled by thecontrol unit 118 of the portable information device of the photographingrequest source (the portable information device 100 in the example).

In step S401, the control unit 118 displays the map image acquired inthe map image preparation processing in the whole screen of the display106. This process is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 11D.According to this display of the map image, the user of the portableinformation device of the photographing request source can recognizethat the coordinate reception processing is started.

In step S402, the control unit 118 displays icons indicating all theusers' locations designated on the map image (the location of the userof the portable information device 100 and the location of the user ofthe portable information device 200 in the example), on the basis of thecoordinate data held in the map image preparation processing and thecoordinate data received in the step S115. This process is performed inthe same manner as in FIG. 12C. Afterward, the coordinate receptionprocessing is ended. After the coordinate reception processing is ended,the processing returns to the step S111 of FIG. 4.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 4. When it is determined in thestep S115 that the coordinate data is not received from the portableinformation device of the photographing request destination, theprocessing shifts to step S116. In the step S116, the control unit 118of the portable information device 100 determines whether or not an iconof a partner of the photographing request destination (the icon 418indicating the location of the user of the portable information device200 in the example) is touched in the map image displayed as the resultof the coordinate reception processing in the display 106.

When it is determined in the step S116 that the icon of the partner ofthe photographing request destination is touched, the processing shiftsto step S500. In the step S500, the control unit 118 executesphotographing request processing. Hereinafter, the photographing requestprocessing will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is aflowchart showing the photographing request processing. The processingof FIG. 8 is controlled by the control unit 118 of the portableinformation device of the photographing request source (the portableinformation device 100).

In step S501, the control unit 118 of the portable information device100 displays such a face image selecting screen as shown in FIG. 11H inthe display 106. As shown in FIG. 11H, in the face image selectingscreen, there is displayed a list of face images 420 that are candidatesof a target subject that is an object present in a target location. Itis to be noted that, here, the face images are displayed, but the imageis not limited to the face image as long as the subject can be specifiedby the image.

In step S502, the user of the portable information device 100 touches adesirable face image (an image of a child in the example) among the faceimages displayed in the face image selecting screen, with the finger 402or the like, thereby selecting the target subject. Upon receiving thisoperation, the control unit 118 distinguishes the face image selected bythe user, from the output of the touch operating unit 108. It is to benoted that the embodiment may have a constitution in which photographingrequest reception processing is ended when there are not any touches inpredetermined time. In this case, it is preferable to send anotification indicating that the cooperative photographing is notperformed to the portable information device of the photographingrequest destination (the portable information device 200 in theexample).

In step S503, the control unit 118 displays the map image acquired inthe map image preparation processing in the whole screen of the display106. This process is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 11D.

In step S504, the control unit 118 displays the icons indicating all theusers' locations designated on the map image (the location of the userof the portable information device 100 and the location of the user ofthe portable information device 200 in the example), on the basis of thecoordinate data held in the map image preparation processing and thecoordinate data received in the step S115.

In step S505, as shown in FIG. 11I, the user of the portable informationdevice 100 touches a position indicating a location of the targetsubject in the map image 410 displayed in the display 106, with thefinger 402 or the like. Upon receiving this operation, the control unit118 acquires a coordinate of the location of the target subjectdesignated by the user, from the output of the touch operating unit 108.It is to be noted that the embodiment may have a constitution in whichthe touch request reception processing is ended when there are not anytouches in predetermined time. In this case, it is preferable to send anotification indicating that the cooperative photographing is notperformed to the portable information device of the photographingrequest destination (the portable information device 200 in theexample).

In step S506, as shown in FIG. 11J, the control unit 118 displays anicon 422 indicating the location of the target subject, on the map image410 displayed in the display 106 on the basis of the coordinate dataacquired in the step S505.

In step S507, the control unit 118 uses the communicating unit 112 totransmit face image data selected by the user and the coordinate dataacquired in the step S505 to the portable information device of thephotographing request destination (the portable information device 200in the example).

In step S508, the control unit 118 uses the communicating unit 112 totransmit a photographing request to the portable information device ofthe photographing request destination (the portable information device200 in the example). Afterward, the photographing request processing isended. After the photographing request processing is ended, theprocessing returns to the step S111 of FIG. 4.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 4. When it is determined in thestep S116 that the icon of the partner of the photographing requestdestination is not touched, the processing shifts to step S117. In thestep S117, the control unit 118 determines whether or not thephotographing request is received from the portable information deviceof the photographing request source (the portable information device 100in the example).

When it is determined in the step S117 that the photographing request isreceived from the portable information device of the photographingrequest source, the processing shifts to step S600. In the step S600,the control unit 118 executes the photographing request receptionprocessing. Hereinafter, the photographing request reception processingwill be described with reference to FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a flowchartshowing the photographing request reception processing. The processingof FIG. 9 is controlled by the control unit 118 of the portableinformation device of the photographing request destination (theportable information device 200 in the example).

In step S601, as shown in FIG. 12D, the control unit 118 of the portableinformation device 200 displays a reduced image 410 a of the map imagetransmitted from the portable information device of the photographingrequest source (the portable information device 100 in the example) sothat the reduced image is superimposed on a live view image 424 in thedisplay 106. In consequence, the user of the portable information deviceof the photographing request destination can recognize that thephotographing request reception processing is started.

In step S602, as shown in FIG. 12D, the control unit 118 displays iconsindicating locations of the user and the target subject which aredesignated on the map image, on the basis of the coordinate datatransmitted together with the photographing request from the portableinformation device of the photographing request source (the portableinformation device 100 in the example) and the coordinate data held inthe step S306.

In step S603, the user of the portable information device 200 touchesthe map image 410 displayed in the display 106 with the finger 502 orthe like. It is to be noted that the embodiment may have a constitutionin which the photographing request reception processing is ended whenthere are not any touches in predetermined time. In this case, it ispreferable to send a notification indicating that the cooperativephotographing is not performed to the portable information device of thephotographing request source (the portable information device 100 in theexample).

In step S604, the control unit 118 detects, from the live view image424, a face similar to the face image transmitted together with thephotographing request from the portable information device of thephotographing request source (the portable information device 100 in theexample), to detect the target subject in the live view image 424.

In step S605, the control unit 118 determines whether or not the targetsubject can be detected in the live view image 424.

When it is determined in the step S605 that the target subject can bedetected in the live view image 424, the processing shifts to step S606.In the step S606, the control unit 118 highlights the detected targetsubject. FIG. 12E shows an example of the highlighting. In one exampleof the highlighting, a frame that surrounds the target subject isdisplayed. The highlighting may be performed by another technique.

In step S607, the control unit 118 determines whether or not thephotographing operation by the user is performed. The photographingoperation is, for example, the touching operation onto the displayscreen of the display 106. The photographing operation may be performedby a technique other than the touching operation. The processing is onstandby until it is determined in the step S607 that the photographingoperation is performed. The embodiment may have a constitution in whichthe photographing request reception processing is ended after an elapseof predetermined time.

When it is determined in the step S607 that the photographing operationis performed, the processing shifts to step S608. In the step S608, thecontrol unit 118 executes the photographing processing. That is, thecontrol unit 118 operates the imager 102. Further, the control unit 118performs the image processing of the image data obtained by theoperation of the imager 102, in the image processing unit 104.

In step S609, the control unit 118 uses the communicating unit 112 totransmit the image data obtained by the photographing operation to theportable information device of the photographing request source (theportable information device 100 in the example). Afterward, thephotographing request reception processing is ended. After thephotographing request reception processing is ended, the processingreturns to the step S111 of FIG. 4.

When it is determined in the step S605 that the target subject cannot bedetected in the live view image 424, the processing shifts to step S620.In the step S620, the control unit 118 cannot catch the target subject,and hence, the control unit displays a message that urges the user tochange a direction of the portable information device 200 in the display106. Afterward, the processing returns to the step S604. FIG. 12F showsone example of this message. The user of the portable information device200 who has seen such a message as shown in FIG. 12F is expected tochange the direction of the portable information device 200, therebysearching for the target subject. It is to be noted that, when themessage is displayed, the face image may be displayed together. When theface image is displayed, the user can easily find the target subject.

Here, the description returns to FIG. 4. When it is determined in thestep S117 that the photographing request is not received from theportable information device of the photographing request source, theprocessing shifts to step S118. In the step S118, the control unit 118determines whether or not the image data is received from the portableinformation device of the photographing request destination (theportable information device 200 in the example). When it is determinedin the step S118 that the image data is not received from the portableinformation device of the photographing request destination, theprocessing returns to the step S111.

When it is determined in the step S118 that the image data is receivedfrom the portable information device of the photographing requestdestination, the processing shifts to step S700. In the step S700, thecontrol unit 118 executes image reception processing. Hereinafter, theimage reception processing will be described with reference to FIG. 10.FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the image reception processing. Theprocessing of FIG. 10 is controlled by the control unit 118 of theportable information device of the photographing request source (theportable information device 100 in the example).

In step S701, as shown in FIG. 11K, the control unit 118 displays aphotographed image 426 in the whole screen of the display 106 on thebasis of the received image data. Furthermore, the control unit 118displays a record button 428 on the photographed image 426 displayed inthe whole screen. In consequence, the user of the portable informationdevice of the photographing request source can recognize that the imagereception processing is started.

In step S702, the user of the portable information device 100 touchesthe record button 428 with the finger 402 or the like as shown in FIG.11L. Upon receiving this operation, the control unit 118 recognizes thatthe record button 428 is touched from the output of the touch operatingunit 108. It is to be noted that the embodiment may have a constitutionin which the image reception processing is ended when there are not anytouches in predetermined time.

In step S703, the control unit 118 records the received image data inthe image recording section 1102. Afterward, the image receptionprocessing is ended. After the image reception processing is ended, theprocessing returns to the step S111 of FIG. 4.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, thephotographing requester can easily and suitably request thephotographing of the target subject. In addition, the photographerperforms the photographing while seeing the map image in which thelocation of the target subject is displayed, so that the photograph canbe taken as requested by the photographing requester.

Here, in the present embodiment, the icon 412 indicating the location ofthe user of the portable information device of the photographing requestsource and the icon 418 indicating the location of the user of theportable information device of the photographing request destination aredisplayed in the map image 410, but these icons do not necessarily haveto be displayed in the map image 410. In this case, the user of theportable information device of each of the photographing request sourceand the photographing request destination does not need to touch andinput the location of the user.

Hereinafter, modifications of the present embodiment will be described.

[Modification 1]

The abovementioned embodiment shows an example where the portableinformation device 100 and the portable information device 200 directlycommunicate to perform photographing. On the other hand, a server 300may be interposed between the portable information device 100 and theportable information device 200. Hereinafter, such a modification willbe described. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing main processing of theserver 300. The processing of FIG. 13 is controlled by a control unit306 of the server 300.

In step S901, the control unit 306 of the server 300 determines whetheror not there is an access of the portable information device 100, theportable information device 200 or the like. In the step S901, theprocessing is on standby until it is determined that the access ispresent.

When it is determined in the step S901 that the access is present, theprocessing shifts to step S902. In the step S902, the control unit 306determines whether or not map image data is received from the portableinformation device 100 or the portable information device 200. The mapimage data sent in the step S902 is transmitted to the server 300 byprocessing of, e.g., the step S104 of FIG. 4 or the like.

When it is determined in the step S902 that the map image data isreceived, the processing shifts to step S903. In the step S903, thecontrol unit 306 determines whether or not the received map image datamatches map image data as a key image recorded in a key image recordingsection 3023.

When it is determined in the step S903 that the received map image datadoes not match the map image data as the key image recorded in the keyimage recording section 3023, the processing shifts to step S904. In thestep S904, the control unit 306 registers the received map image data asthe key image of a new community in the key image recording section3023.

In step S905, the control unit 306 prepares the new community. In stepS906, the control unit 306 registers data indicating information (e.g.,a user name) indicating a user of the portable information device whichhas transmitted the map image data, as information of a member of thecommunity prepared in the step S905 in a community information recordingsection 3021. Afterward, the processing returns to the step S901.

When it is determined in the step S903 that the received map image datamatches the map image data as the key image recorded in the key imagerecording section 3023, the processing shifts to step S920. In thiscase, the community has already been prepared, and hence, in the stepS920, the control unit 306 registers the data indicating the information(e.g., the user name) indicating the user of the portable informationdevice which has transmitted the map image data, as the information ofthe corresponding community member in the community informationrecording section 3021. Afterward, the processing returns to the stepS901. It is to be noted that the processing of the step S920 is notperformed in a case where the user information has already beenregistered.

When it is determined in the step S902 that the map image data is notreceived, the processing shifts to step S950. In the step S950, thecontrol unit 306 determines whether or not a request for a cooperatingservice is received from the portable information device 100 or theportable information device 200.

When it is determined in the step S950 that the request for thecooperating service is received, the processing shifts to step S951. Inthe step S951, the control unit 306 controls the cooperating service.The cooperating service is performed in the same manner as in FIG. 4 toFIG. 10. However, in Modification 1, the user of the portableinformation device 100 and the user of the portable information device200 belong to the same community. Further, the control unit 306 of theserver 300 mediates data exchange in the cooperating service between theportable information devices belonging to the same community, ortransmits screen data required to display various screens in theportable information device. After such a cooperating service isperformed, the processing returns to the step S901.

When it is determined in the step S950 that the request for thecooperating service is not received, the processing shifts to step S952.In the step S952, the control unit 306 executes processing other thanthe processing in the case where the map image is received and otherthan the cooperating service. This processing is, for example,processing of recording a received photographed image in an imagerecording section 3022 when the photographed image is received. Afterthe other processing is executed, the processing returns to the stepS901.

As described above, according to Modification 1, it is possible toexecute cooperative photographing between the portable informationdevices belonging to the same community.

It is to be noted that, in Modification 1, there is shown the examplewhere the user information is registered in the community informationrecording section 3021 by receiving the map image data. However, whenthe user information is registered in the community informationrecording section 3021, it is not essential to receive the map imagedata. For example, the present modification may have, for example, aconstitution in which the user information is registered in thecommunity information recording section 3021 by inputting an electronicmail address.

[Another Modification]

In the abovementioned embodiment and Modification 1, there has beendescribed an application example to a photographing system in whichphotographing is requested by designating a location of a target subjecton a map image. On the other hand, the present communication system isapplicable to various systems having a constitution in which oneportable information device informs the other portable informationdevice of a target location to transmit a request for a predeterminedaction to be performed. In this respect, the present communicationsystem is expected to be applied to various fields such as a medicalfield and the like.

Each processing by the abovementioned embodiment can be stored as aprogram that can be executed by a CPU or the like as a computer.Additionally, the program can be stored and distributed in a storagemedium of an external storage device such as a memory card, a magneticdisc, an optical disc or a semiconductor memory. Further, the CPU or thelike reads the program stored in the storage medium of this externalstorage device, and an operation is controlled in accordance with thisread program, so that the abovementioned processing can be executed.

Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects isnot limited to the specific details and representative embodiments shownand described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventiveconcept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A location information designating devicecomprising: a location confirming image acquiring section that acquiresa location confirming image by which location information isconfirmable; a display control section that causes a display to displaythe acquired location confirming image; an operating unit thatdesignates, responsive to a first received user input, a position of theuser in the location confirming image displayed by the display, wherein,responsive to the designation of the position of the user, the displaycontrol section further causes the display to (1) display an icon at alocation within the location confirmation image corresponding to thedesignated position of the user, and (2) display a button for receivinga transmission command from the user; a memory that holds coordinatescorresponding to the designated position of the user; and acommunicating unit that transmits, to an external information device,information about the user, the coordinates held in memory, and theacquired location confirming image, wherein, responsive to adetermination that the user has input a request to have a partner usertake a photograph, (1) the operating unit selects, responsive to asecond received user input, a target object, (2) the display controlsection causes the display to display the location confirming image andicons, within the location confirming image, corresponding to any usersthat have designated their position, (3) the operating unit designates,responsive to a third received user input, coordinates of the targetobject, and (4) the communicating unit transmits, to an externalinformation device used by the partner user, the coordinates of thetarget object, together with a request for an action to be performed bythe partner user of the external information device.
 2. The locationinformation designating device according to claim 1, wherein, responsiveto the determination that the user has input a request to have a partneruser take a photograph, the communicating unit further transmits imagedata of the target object to the external information device.
 3. Thelocation information designating device according to claim 1, whereinthe operating unit further designates a location of the locationinformation designating device in the location confirming imagedisplayed by the display, and the communicating unit further transmitsthe location of the location information designating device to theexternal information device.
 4. The location information designatingdevice according to claim 1, wherein the location confirming imageacquiring section acquires the location confirming image to be displayedby the display from the location confirming images recorded in alocation confirming image recording section.
 5. The location informationdesignating device according to claim 1, wherein the location confirmingimage acquiring section acquires an image obtained by imaging a subjectas the location confirming image to be displayed by the display.
 6. Thelocation information designating device according to claim 1, whereinthe location confirming image includes a map image.
 7. The locationinformation designating device according to claim 1, wherein theexternal information device is a portable information device having aphotographing function, and the request for the action is aphotographing request.
 8. The location information designating device ofclaim 1 wherein, responsive to the determination that the user has inputa request to have a partner user take a photograph, the display controlsection further causes the display to display a plurality of candidatetarget objects, and wherein the target object is selected from among theplurality of candidate target objects.
 9. A location informationdesignating method comprising: acquiring a location confirming image bywhich location information is confirmable; displaying the acquiredlocation confirming image by a display; designating, responsive to afirst received user input, a position of the user in the locationconfirming image displayed by the display; responsive to the designationof the position of the user, (1) displaying an icon at a location withinthe location confirmation image corresponding to the designated positionof the user, and (2) displaying a button for receiving a transmissioncommand from the user; storing coordinates corresponding to thedesignated position of the user; and transmitting, to an externalinformation device, information about the user, the coordinates held inmemory, and the acquired location confirming image; and responsive to adetermination that the user has input a request to have a partner usertake a photograph, (1) selecting, responsive to a second received userinput, a target object, (2) displaying the location confirming image andicons, within the location confirming image, corresponding to any usersthat have designated their position, (3) designating, responsive to athird received user input, coordinates of the target object, and (4)transmitting, to an external information device used by the partneruser, the coordinates of the target object, together with a request foran action to be performed by the partner user of the externalinformation device.
 10. A non-transitory storage medium in which thereis stored a location information designating program which, whenexecuted by a system including a least one processor, causes the systemto perform a method comprising: acquiring a location confirming image bywhich location information is confirmable; displaying the acquiredlocation confirming image by a display; designating, responsive to afirst received user input, a position of the user in the locationconfirming image displayed by the display; responsive to the designationof the position of the user, (1) displaying an icon at a location withinthe location confirmation image corresponding to the designated positionof the user, and (2) displaying a button for receiving a transmissioncommand from the user; storing coordinates corresponding to thedesignated position of the user; and transmitting, to an externalinformation device, information about the user, the coordinates held inmemory, and the acquired location confirming image; and responsive to adetermination that the user has input a request to have a partner usertake a photograph, (1) selecting, responsive to a second received userinput, a target object, (2) displaying the location confirming image andicons, within the location confirming image, corresponding to any usersthat have designated their position, (3) designating, responsive to athird received user input, coordinates of the target object, and (4)transmitting, to an external information device used by the partneruser, the coordinates of the target object, together with a request foran action to be performed by the partner user of the externalinformation device.